Apple TV activates 2026 Emmys season with stars of Pluribus, Shrinking

Apple TV is bringing back the mall tour, just in time for the Emmys.

Beginning today, the streamer has officially taken over the Westfield Century City Mall in Los Angeles, creating a one-stop shop themed for its award contenders and open to both TV fans and Emmy voters. The activation, which runs April 24 to April 26 and again April 30 to May 3, features special photo ops, immersive exhibits, and customized merch giveaways.

On Thursday, the stars of four Apple originals — Pluribus, Shrinking, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and The Morning Show — were on hand for a special preview.

Art Directors Guild President Nelson Coates, a two-time Emmy nominee for The Morning Show (2024) and The Stand (1994), opened the event with a toast: “We’re so grateful to Apple TV for supporting these unique and original stories, and we’re so excited for you all to get activated by going around and seeing each of the displays. Please invite your friends!”

Gold Derby caught up with all of the stars at the Apple TV activation, beginning with:

Pluribus

Samba Schutte is garnering Emmy buzz for playing Mr. Diabaté, an uninfected person who’s loving his new glamorous life. “I can’t even fathom [receiving a nomination],” he told us, “because it was a dream to get a role in this Vince Gilligan project and step into a character as fun as mine was. I just wanted to be of service to Vince’s vision. But to be recognized by peers would be a dream come true. Not only that, I’d be the first Mauritanian guy to be Emmy-nominated, which would be fantastic.”

Karolina Wydra, who plays Zosia, was hoping for the hive to get a nod. “That’ll be incredible because our show is original and different. It’s a show that makes you think and makes you ask questions about humanity, and it stirs up so much for people,” the Polish actress said, adding, “it’s such a labor of love. When the show is celebrated, everyone is celebrated. I want everyone that worked on the show to be acknowledged and celebrated in that way.”

Shrinking

“It’s a nice company to be in,” Michael Urie (Brian) told us about both the neighboring exhibits and the streamer’s full slate. “They have a lot of cool shows that I either love or am dying to watch. The sensibility of Apple is really working for me. And did you know that they make phones?!” As for his thoughts on Shrinking potentially winning Best Comedy Series this year, the former Emmy nominee exclaimed, “[Showrunner] Bill Lawrence would make a great speech!”

Ted McGinley (Derek) echoed those sentiments: “I think Apple has a really good sense of who they are and what they’re looking for and what they want to put out, and they back stuff up. We are the beneficiaries of them supporting our entire show.” He said that Shrinking‘s crew, and especially the writers, “very much deserve” some Emmy attention for the work they did on Season 3, which concluded earlier this month.

As for Luke Tennie (Sean), his biggest career hope is to guest-star on another Apple TV project. “I’m telling everybody who listens, I want to be on The Studio!” he proclaimed. “I cannot express what that show has done to my brain chemistry. I see it in my mind. It’s infected me. The way it’s shot, it’s kind of dream-like, and you never blink.” As for Shrinking, Tennie said “it’s time” for it to win Best Comedy Series, noting, “These people are some of the best to ever do it, and they’re doing something new, original, and interesting.”

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Before talking about his new hit comedy, Greg Kinnear (Kenny) offered up some advice for us: “Gold Derby should be getting into the cash business. Come on! I mean, I’m trying to help you guys.” But would he bet money on Margo’s Got Money Troubles getting some Emmy love? “I would. I think there’s a lot of good stuff in our show. But the truth is, this is a hard ecosystem to gamble on. Apple has so much great content here — one after another. I’m quite blown away. But I do like ours!”

Michael Angarano (Mark) picked up that thread: “I think our show has some good auspices attached and a good track record. Honestly, I’m just really happy that people are watching and liking the show, and that it’s getting out there and being talked about. That’s very validating in and of itself.” They both agreed that director Dearbhla Walsh should earn an Emmy nomination, with Angarano calling her the show’s “tone setter.” As for lead actress Elle Fanning, she is delivering his “personal favorite performance” of her career.

The Morning Show

Mark Duplass (Chip) is still excited that so many of his female co-stars have received Emmy attention through the years. “Not to be preachy, but as a show that’s led by women and doing a female gaze inside of the massive machine, that makes me very, very happy.” He now wishes for some posthumous love for Joe Marinelli, who passed away in 2025 and played the director of the show-within-the-show. “I got to know him well because we were always in that control room together,” Duplass explained. “I just loved him, and he was so into being No. 85 on the cast list. He gave his all, even when he wasn’t on camera. He’s part of a breed of actor that doesn’t quite exist anymore.”

Meanwhile, Karen Pittman (Mia) wanted to shine a spotlight on co-star Shari Belafonte, who has appeared in dozens of episodes as floor manager Julia: “She’s been around for decades. She’s an extraordinary artist and she contributes so much to the show. Behind the scenes, she’s a force in our union, SAG-AFTRA. Anytime I see her on set, I feel the warm fuzzies!” For Pittman, attending the 2025 Emmys as a first-time nominee was an “amazing and wonderful” experience, particularly since The Morning Show had so many nods. “Award shows are nice,” she stated, “but being there with your entire cast being celebrated like that is priceless.”

Inside Apple TV’s 2026 Emmys FYC activation

In addition to Pluribus, Shrinking, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and The Morning Show, other Apple original series featured at the immersive experience include Chief of War, Imperfect Women, Palm Royale, Slow Horses, Stick, and Your Friends & Neighbors.

Take a virtual peek inside the Apple TV activation in the gallery below: